Chula Vista is an amazing place to live! We just moved here less than a year ago and there is so much to do here. We live in old Chula Vista, near downtown and there is so much growth happening here. So many new businesses opening up, such a great place. You don’t have to leave Chula Vista unless you work outside of here.
My Wife and I moved to CV a year and a half ago and appreciate the 30 minute commute to SD… coming from 1.5 hours to San Francisco. Thanks for letting us know that we did good and for doing such a great job on your channel!
I live in west side Chula Vista right off the 5 and my commute time is shorter to pretty much everywhere then when I lived in ocean beach. Not sure what he is talking about here. Maybe he means from Far East/inland CV? I live it here, very cheap, working class blue collar neighbors, just over all down to earth people
@@brad6523 UPDATE: We ended up moving back up North to a suburban city with a "small town" feeling. We sold our home just in time to make 200k in 2 years. Although we miss Chula Vista, we were amazed how we adapted to "big city life". In your later years, consider living in a smaller town. You will enjoy it much better.
My home was built in 1955 and I’d choose it any day over the majority of the homes built in the last 20 years. The quality of work and materials used is severely lacking.
I’m not positive, but I think almost every single home in San Diego is not less than 50 years old unless it’s in one of those ritzy neighborhoods like El Cajon on the hills. And I know what you mean, I live in a tract home condo in Alaska and it’s very cheaply built. It’s out of convenience
@@jondstewart There were over 1 million people in the San Diego metro area in 1965, so there are quite a few homes older than 50 years. But yeah, probably the majority are 1980s and newer.
I agree. My house was built in 1958 and I think it is way more sturdy than my previous place that was built in 1990. The wood is all thick redwood (never have termite issues) and the walls feel like concrete. No doubt, the WORST quality homes in SD were built in the late 70s through late 80s. Absolute garbage unless it was an expensive, custom-built home.
Eastlake Chula Vista is so beautiful. Most homes are pretty new and they are still building here. Community pools for every group of homes. Lovely landscaping everywhere.
Definitely agree with you on the traffic issue when living in Chula. It's like the city doesn't factor in the traffic issues when doing their city planning. They just keep building homes and converting commercial zones into residential zones. How the heck are people gonna go to work when almost all jobs are located in the north of CV and the traffic sucksssss during rush hours. They should really attract more businesses and offices to the south to levigate the traffic issues.
I bought my new construction single family home 5 years ago in the community right next to The Village of Escaya. My property tax with Mello Roos is 1.56%. HOA is only $68. I think that I was just lucky to buy our house at the right time for $448K (now its' estimated worth is around $690K). New construction these days for single family homes in Otay Ranch is over $600K and in the mid $400K for new townhomes. It is a nice area even though it is not central.
Pros about Chula Vista Shop per shop we have the best taco shops Food trucks Coast weather ppl forget how close to the bay old chula is Houses for all budgets
Live in VT. Love older homes, character, etc. We have homes here that are 150 - 200 years old they are the homes people want. Thanks for your informative video.
Have a 110 yr old house one block from bird Park/morley field Love it love it love it. Use Balboa Park everyday. Super awesome. Homeless is nothing compared to Hillcrest, downtown
I live in normal heights and the neighbors home just sold for 890,000 its tiny and only 2 bedrooms it does have a separate thing uncould turn into a granny flat or studio but u would need to add plumbing
You mention the age of homes as a negative, because of potential need of repair, in North Park. That's just part of living in a desireable neighborhood of older homes. Consider Banker's Hill, Hillcrest, Mission Hills. The reason to discount North Park is that it is currently overpriced because of people who want the afore-mentioned areas but can't afford them. Regarding El Cajon the worst things, besides the commute, are the heat and the smog. When I lived in Mission Hills, on a pleasant summer day when it was eighty degrees at home, I would visit friends in El Cajon where it was one hundred and five degrees.
Imperial Beach, Point Loma, Mission Beach, Coronado, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach. ALSO LAJOLLA SHORES/COVE ARE THE PLACES THAT I WOULD LOVE TO RESIDE IN.
I was waiting for you to say City Heights and National City. I have been a renter and a homeowner now in City Heights but just because I live by myself. I will move out for sure if I ever have a family. I think it's on par with downtown for crime rate and infested with underperforming schools and it's a shame because the proximity to downtown and to costal area is so amazing.
@@DanPBestLifeSD I don’t blame you. If I had the option to change my career, I would. It’s hard to leave a large income with a family that depends on you.
I was born and raised in the Southbay and you left the best parts out of Chula Vista portion. Try taking a look at Rancho Del Rey (Milagrosa/Belmont), Bonita, Sunbow, Eastlake, and Rolling Hills. Those other areas you mentioned don’t do Chula Vista justice.
and if you had a european mind, the walkability is decent in Chula Vista. Americans look at you like you're a crazy person, but you could get a lot of places if you're willing to walk anywhere between 2-10 miles.
It can be a reality that is comfortable and come true if you’re earning at least 300,000 a year, know how to flip homes, a millionaire, or lived in the same house for at least 30 years. It seems like a wonderful place to live, but I would get real tired of having 70 to 75° weather every day for most of the year and no rain
Imperial beach is getting better.... thanks for mentioning the nasty ocean water in imperial beach! Its definitely a problem. I don't touch the ocean water in Imperial Beach.
I can tell you I have enough confidence in our housing market here that my wife and I just put a competitive offer on a personal home for us. If you want more insights check out out livestream tonight
Thank you for addressing the sewage issues in Imperial Beach, it is a nightmare to deal with and in 2020 the beach wa closed for almost 10 months. Regardless what the do to fix it there has always someone out there to sabotage the equipment… the crime rate is much higher than reported. Even with the sewage issues, ten years ago Imperial Beach was okay. Today not do much as it is just not a safe place to reside. .
Nothing wrong with 20 - 30 minutes away from the city . I live 25 it's clean ,quite and i can still get what i need. The other benefit is i don't have to suffer the Latte lot .
IMO, I felt like the video is predominantly based on driving distance. When you said "avoid" I thought your going to name cities like Kearny Mesa, San Ysidro, National city, etc. Due to crime rates. Also, I might've missed it but I don't think you mention homelessness in downtown and balboa park. Chula Vista east of the highway was underwhemingly unappreciated. I mean no disrespect maybe change the title of the upload, still informative, still enjoyed it and thank you.
I appreciate the honest feedback DC. I put a lot of time into making an accurate and informative video here, but unfortunately due to fair housing laws I am restricted from discussing crime rates in specific areas.
@@DanPBestLifeSDThank you for your response. My apologies, I was unaware of the laws and regulations. Again, I appreciate your videos and I look forward to more.
I grew up in North Park/Hillcrest area and you couldn't ask for a better neighborhood to rip around in unsupervised as a kid (80's & 90's) unfortunately in my 30's I was priced out of living there as rental costs keep climbing, I'm stuck in El Cajon now...and only cause I've lived in our current place for so long the yearly increase on our rent is manageable. The other units have been fully renovated & cost around $1800 a month while my roommate and I only pay $1300, and remain unrenovated. The new units have new kitchens & dishwashers, etc...
Do you have a video on the best place to rent in San Diego ? Eg safe neighborhoods, less expensive neighborhoods, traffic ( working in the 92127,28 zip codes). I heard living close to a fwy can be a crime issue . Is that about right ? I like how you break down home ownership by the factors you point out. You mentioned that traffic is usally heavy on north, south direction where east, west direction fwy are better. That's good for me to consider. Thx
We just bought a 2200 sq ft log cabin on 2.25 acres in Santa Ysabel with a lake view and only 1 neighbor. I couldn't be happier, even with my 1 hour commute to Kearny Mesa (I love my job!). I drive uncongested mountain roads for the majority. I've lived in a lot of the places you mentioned, I think you're right and appreciate your perspective. It's all relative, it's whatever is worth it to you and your family. Btw schools are a very important consideration in SD, thank God for High Tech - but apply early because that wait list is as long as the TJ border wait. Signed - SD native.
This is for people that are thinking about moving to san diego or are not from san diego , those of us that are from here have no problem with living here. We don't own a dollar on our homes.
All of these areas have negatives and positives you don’t mention besides the traffic and ownership rates. Being a native from San Diego and being a parent of four children some people or a family coming from out of town will definitely have more questions please feel free to ask 👍
Thank you for your advice. I have friends and family there in Bankers Hill area. Yes, I hear you about the way things cost more inside San Diego County. I hear you but I do love San Diego on general.
Ownership rate in El Cajon is less than 40%!?!?! Im not surprised. There are a ton of apartments here. El Cajon has a lot of history and potential, but when you have so many renters, you often get people who dont care as much as an owner would. With Gillespie Field expanding its uncommon to have helicopters flying low. Theyre louder than the TV!
I was expecting to see Encanto in the list. I guess because it's so close to Naval Station and Downtown SD that it's still a highly desirable area. I've been in Emerald Hills since 2013 and love it, never had a problem.
I love this area and wouldn’t live anywhere else in SD. So funny these real estate know-it-all’s are basically catering to a very specific group (who are a very low percentage here).
Depending on where you live in Chula Vista it’s not as far as it seems. I live off the 5 and it takes me 12-15 minutes to get to the airport all the way inside to the parking lot where I work and it used to take me 15-20 minutes to get to San Diego state taking the 5 then the 15 when I used to go to school. I’m 10 minutes away from downtown and 15 min away from Coronado and mission valley. About 20-25 minutes to get to anything above old town. I absolutely love Chula Vista, I hate the negative stereotype it gets because it’s so close to the border. It’s an incredibly safe neighborhood to live in and I love the community in Chula Vista. I grew up here and lived out of the state of California for 8 years and I came back because I missed it too much. I really appreciate everything that Chula Vista is. I just wish San Diego overall had more stores in other cities like Whole Foods and total wine just to name a few. I love it here though.
I haven’t been to Chula Vista except in passing. My brother in law took us to a home of friends of his in Imperial Beach on 4th of July 2019 and weather there even better than San Diego. For years I thought San Diego itself was right on the Mexico border. Glad you love it. I would love to live in or around the San Diego area, but still annoyed at the cost of living and taxes. About 40 or 50 years ago and before, it was no more expensive living in San Diego than it was in most of the rest of the United States.
The lemon grove "older the home. The more the costs." Is soooo true. My old home was really old and my parent's window needed to be kept held up with a wooden block and the land lord didn't even bother fixing ANYTHING. We still live in lemon grove but more in a modern/newer (but smaller and a slightly bigger rent price) home!
Sounds like your parents needed a simple balance replacement in the window. If they were renting & the landlord refused to do the repair, they could have just done it paid for it, and then took the cost of repair out of the rent & provided a copy of proof of repair.
Hi Parker, I see this video you posted almost a year ago. In a year, so much changed in the market. Its hard to find perfect 3bd Townhome in Mira mesa or near by 20miles radius. More trouble for first time buyers. What area do you suggest other than these?
Thanks for your question and for watching! Yes, there's no doubt the market has changed a LOT in the last 12 months, and I'll continue to put out content that can help answer those questions for you. Depending on your budget, what you are looking for, and where you are at, you might want to try Escondido, San Marcos, Santee, or El Cajon for more value. Reach out for more detailed info based on your situation.
There are good and bad parts of Vista, but I love the area! They also have a nice new downtown area you can walk around in. A lot of older homes with character, and less cookie-cutter than a lot of neighborhoods.
Homeless has also become a problem in NP. I saw a nice condo on 30th for sale for about $700k but it's right next to a church that houses all the bums and riff raf. A few days ago I walked by it and this homeless lady was outside on a crack cocaine and shouting obscenities. I know that can happen in any part of the city but if I'm paying $700k for a condo I dont want bullshit outside my house.
Born and raised all around SD. Bought a house on 4th and j st in Chula Vista for 300 in 2010, sold for 445 in 2017 , left the state and never looked back except for the memories. Glad I got to see it before it went crazy.
I no longer live in San Diego area, moved to NC, but I love Imperial Beach, I wish I had purchased there years ago, had I, I'd probably still be in San Diego County,
I own a condo in North Park and I don't. agree with you. It is a wonderful neighborhood. There are lots of opportunities. Yes, it is expensive, but if you can afford it, there are lots of updated condos and single family homes. Everything is so close. You can walk to stores, restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc. Balboa Park, downtown, Mission Bay, Mission and Fashion Valley are accessible in 10 minutes if you drive. This is spending less money on gas. And if you want to buy a property for investment, it is one of the best neighborhoods. The price of my condo almost doubled in 5 years. If you do not want to live in suburbs and be close to everything, North Park is the place to be.
All great areas but Solana Beach and all areas of Encinitas are expensive. Carlsbad has many areas which are office/retail/commercial in addition to residential.
Pros highly desirable, cons you need a big capital to invest in Solana Beach, Del Mar and Encinitas. As well as Carlsbad who was accessible not that long ago.
To each their own! A lot of times people that have had bad experiences with neighbors not taking care of their homes, or people that just don't want to have to manage anything on the exterior of the home, are excited about HOA's.
Its January 2022. I would say avoid buying a house ANYWARE IN SAN DIEGO. This is a SELLERS MARKET! Interest going up and house prices increasing at this rate is unsustainable. Wait if you can.
What do you believe will be the catalyst for the market to go down? Just saying prices have been going up for too long isn't a reason for prices to come down. People still have money to afford these homes.
@@DanPBestLifeSD just like last time. We saw the same exact thing 15 years ago with the only possible exception that people with the worst credit arent as easiliy able to get loans today, but that's not clear. When financing your real estate is based on increasing values, and this is the way it is, then the second the market plateaus or even falls, it starts a domino effect with people trying to sell off. A game of musical chairs.
Is there a single neighborhood or middle-class home in San Diego proper that is less than 50 years old? I know Chula Vista was mentioned and assume you have to go out to El Cajon or Escondido to have something like that. Imperial Beach was the same and nothing but 1950’s homes.
Hey Jon, that's a good question. I would say most of the "affordable" neighborhoods in San Diego are around 50-70 years old. Some of the "newer" neighborhoods (30 years or less) you may want to check out are are in Carlsbad, 4S Ranch, Escondido, Santee, San Carlos, Vista, Oceanside, and maybe some townhomes in Mission Valley.
ACTUAL FACTUAL,JOURNALIST:YOUR INFORMATIVE CHANNEL IS ABSOLUTELY A GODSEND! BRAVO ZULU,BRUH.. I JUST FOUND YOUR FEED+I WILL REMAIN FOR TOPSHELF INTEL. SEMPER FIDELIS.
The answer is it depends! I'd need to know more about your specific situation and the home you are looking for. Shoot me a message and I'm happy to help
Hi there! I wonder if you can help me ,about 7 months ago I saw one of your videos and I think you mentioned a nice Mexican restaurant in the Hillcrest neighborhood, where you had a date with your wife .Could you reply about it? Thanks, I would appreciate it.I enjoy your videos.
Personally, I bought an older home in CV away from the landfill. Escaya is nice but the stink from the landfill was evident during the times I viewed the homes. Also was a bit concerned with what absorbs into the land by the home. Minus that, it's a beautiful area.
Because due to fair housing laws I am prohibited from discussing my thoughts on safety and crime. Check out sites like niche.com or search for each city's government website crime stats
Some folks are not going to like your honest opinion about the neighborhoods mentioned but that's precisely why I liked it, because you were giving your honest opinion based on your extensive knowledge of the housing market in San Diego. I do have a question, when I was looking at homes near IB, I remember smelling a bad odor in some areas. Is that due to the sewage problem or to the algae which all beaches get from time to time?
Mr. Parker! My brother. Thanks, I really appreciate your comment. The smell you mention is probably associated with the wetlands/wildlife refuge area, or even could be some local runoff going into the ocean. So more of an algae smell. I don’t think you are going to smell anything associated with the sewage problem I mentioned in the video
La Mesa is highly desirable but because now it has a liberal city council not sure. They want to turn the Holiday Inn across Costco into a homeless camp. Not sure if those decisions are good for the city. BTW the homeless pop is imported from other neighborhoods. Having said that, home and rentals have skyrocketed and there is little inventory in the market.
Hi Dan, is there any areas in San Diego where there's no lizards? :( we just moved to SD locating in la mesa now & I was terribly shocked by the amount of lizards outdoors! We looking to buy a home soon, looking for lizards-free area wherever that would be lol 😁
I’m surprised he didn’t mention any places not to live in because of the homeless problem. It’s politically correct to not address but there’s a safety aspect that all homebuyers will factor in.
It has nothing to do with being politically correct, as a real estate agent I MUST abide by fair housing laws, which means I am prohibited from mentioning my opinion on safety of one neighborhood vs another.
Chula Vista Schools are very good, not that much in San Marcos or Escondido. Lemon Grove schools are good too. La Mesa-Spring Valley not great. San Diego unified overall is okay. El Cajon has a good school district.
It's very tough to get into as a first time buyer that is for sure. But I've also seen a lot of people build wealth just by getting their foot in the door with a home and watching it build equity.
stay out of nasty national city, it's cut off from Chula Vista, city of San Diego, and Bonita, look on the map of San Diego, it's cut off with no more expansion, no more home building, only condos and apartments are being built, it's a car jacking-with lots of break-ins of San Diego, County
The upper level schools tho... My kids grew up there (shared custody with dad), elementary was fine but we enrolled them in High Tech for middle and HS. They did well but I was super nervous for the short time we thought they might end up in a school in LG.
1. Chula Vista
2. El Cajon
3. Lemon Grove
4. Imperial Beach
5. San Marcos
6. N. Park
For anyone not interested in watching here it is!
Chula Vista is an amazing place to live! We just moved here less than a year ago and there is so much to do here. We live in old Chula Vista, near downtown and there is so much growth happening here. So many new businesses opening up, such a great place. You don’t have to leave Chula Vista unless you work outside of here.
Thanks for the insight Daisy!
I grew up in Chula Vista in the 70s through the 90s..so I've seen how much it has grown
I think the future development of the convention center and the 4-year university will increase Chula Vista home value.
My Wife and I moved to CV a year and a half ago and appreciate the 30 minute commute to SD… coming from 1.5 hours to San Francisco. Thanks for letting us know that we did good and for doing such a great job on your channel!
I live in west side Chula Vista right off the 5 and my commute time is shorter to pretty much everywhere then when I lived in ocean beach. Not sure what he is talking about here. Maybe he means from Far East/inland CV?
I live it here, very cheap, working class blue collar neighbors, just over all down to earth people
@@brad6523 UPDATE: We ended up moving back up North to a suburban city with a "small town" feeling. We sold our home just in time to make 200k in 2 years. Although we miss Chula Vista, we were amazed how we adapted to "big city life". In your later years, consider living in a smaller town. You will enjoy it much better.
My home was built in 1955 and I’d choose it any day over the majority of the homes built in the last 20 years. The quality of work and materials used is severely lacking.
I’m not positive, but I think almost every single home in San Diego is not less than 50 years old unless it’s in one of those ritzy neighborhoods like El Cajon on the hills. And I know what you mean, I live in a tract home condo in Alaska and it’s very cheaply built. It’s out of convenience
@@jondstewart There were over 1 million people in the San Diego metro area in 1965, so there are quite a few homes older than 50 years. But yeah, probably the majority are 1980s and newer.
I agree. My house was built in 1958 and I think it is way more sturdy than my previous place that was built in 1990. The wood is all thick redwood (never have termite issues) and the walls feel like concrete. No doubt, the WORST quality homes in SD were built in the late 70s through late 80s. Absolute garbage unless it was an expensive, custom-built home.
Eastlake Chula Vista is so beautiful. Most homes are pretty new and they are still building here. Community pools for every group of homes. Lovely landscaping everywhere.
Definitely agree with you on the traffic issue when living in Chula. It's like the city doesn't factor in the traffic issues when doing their city planning. They just keep building homes and converting commercial zones into residential zones. How the heck are people gonna go to work when almost all jobs are located in the north of CV and the traffic sucksssss during rush hours. They should really attract more businesses and offices to the south to levigate the traffic issues.
thank you for using levigate... it's a nice word
I bought my new construction single family home 5 years ago in the community right next to The Village of Escaya. My property tax with Mello Roos is 1.56%. HOA is only $68. I think that I was just lucky to buy our house at the right time for $448K (now its' estimated worth is around $690K). New construction these days for single family homes in Otay Ranch is over $600K and in the mid $400K for new townhomes. It is a nice area even though it is not central.
Pros about Chula Vista
Shop per shop we have the best taco shops
Food trucks
Coast weather ppl forget how close to the bay old chula is
Houses for all budgets
Great input. One more negative to north park is all the apartments right next to the single family homes. Makes parking a nightmare.
I
Maintenance in these areas neglected too for some reason. seems like bids are less likely to get approved in these places too
Live in VT. Love older homes, character, etc. We have homes here that are 150 - 200 years old they are the homes people want. Thanks for your informative video.
Have a 110 yr old house one block from bird Park/morley field Love it love it love it. Use Balboa Park everyday. Super awesome. Homeless is nothing compared to Hillcrest, downtown
I live in normal heights and the neighbors home just sold for 890,000 its tiny and only 2 bedrooms it does have a separate thing uncould turn into a granny flat or studio but u would need to add plumbing
And it is probably a 100 year old house!
You mention the age of homes as a negative, because of potential need of repair, in North Park. That's just part of living in a desireable neighborhood of older homes. Consider Banker's Hill, Hillcrest, Mission Hills. The reason to discount North Park is that it is currently overpriced because of people who want the afore-mentioned areas but can't afford them. Regarding El Cajon the worst things, besides the commute, are the heat and the smog. When I lived in Mission Hills, on a pleasant summer day when it was eighty degrees at home, I would visit friends in El Cajon where it was one hundred and five degrees.
Good points!
Sorry Dan. I don't think you speak for SD very well. Sounds like you really don't know the areas.
Imperial Beach, Point Loma, Mission Beach, Coronado, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach. ALSO LAJOLLA SHORES/COVE ARE THE PLACES THAT I WOULD LOVE TO RESIDE IN.
I live in Eastlake Greens and love. East Chula Vista is such a great place to cycle, run and live.
Love it! Thanks for the input
Is east chula vista a safe place to live?
@@ricolovesjosephine definitely
Love Eastlake new stores on other side of mall... Walmart!! Lol👍👍
I was waiting for you to say City Heights and National City. I have been a renter and a homeowner now in City Heights but just because I live by myself. I will move out for sure if I ever have a family. I think it's on par with downtown for crime rate and infested with underperforming schools and it's a shame because the proximity to downtown and to costal area is so amazing.
Definitely a good future outlook and nice location for rental / airbnb investing
And he forgot Logan Heights too. All three of these should of been at the top of the list for bad neighborhoods esp. for families.
I always find it humorous hearing people say a 30 minute drive will wear you down. I’ve been driving an hour and a half + for over 12 years now.
I wouldn't be able to do it!
@@DanPBestLifeSD I don’t blame you. If I had the option to change my career, I would. It’s hard to leave a large income with a family that depends on you.
Three hours per day commuting is a waste.
I lived in San Antonio Texas for 11 years and commuted 25 miles one way to work and people thought I was insane and that city is huge space wise!
I was born and raised in the Southbay and you left the best parts out of Chula Vista portion. Try taking a look at Rancho Del Rey (Milagrosa/Belmont), Bonita, Sunbow, Eastlake, and Rolling Hills. Those other areas you mentioned don’t do Chula Vista justice.
I appreciate the feedback John! And happy your favorite areas are here in this thread for people to see
and if you had a european mind, the walkability is decent in Chula Vista. Americans look at you like you're a crazy person, but you could get a lot of places if you're willing to walk anywhere between 2-10 miles.
Living in San Diego is the dream, but sadly not the reality. Great video Dan.
It can be a reality that is comfortable and come true if you’re earning at least 300,000 a year, know how to flip homes, a millionaire, or lived in the same house for at least 30 years. It seems like a wonderful place to live, but I would get real tired of having 70 to 75° weather every day for most of the year and no rain
It’s an amazing city but expensive 5 bucks for a drink and a mill or two for a 2 bed house
I appreciate the info. I want to know are you filming this on an iPad and if so are used in the front or rear facing camera?
Thanks Stanny! I recorded this on a Sony A7400
Imperial beach is getting better.... thanks for mentioning the nasty ocean water in imperial beach! Its definitely a problem. I don't touch the ocean water in Imperial Beach.
Love your videos very informative , do you think it’s a good idea to bay now or wit for the “ economy to be better
I can tell you I have enough confidence in our housing market here that my wife and I just put a competitive offer on a personal home for us. If you want more insights check out out livestream tonight
Thank you for addressing the sewage issues in Imperial Beach, it is a nightmare to deal with and in 2020 the beach wa closed for almost 10 months. Regardless what the do to fix it there has always someone out there to sabotage the equipment… the crime rate is much higher than reported. Even with the sewage issues, ten years ago Imperial Beach was okay. Today not do much as it is just not a safe place to reside. .
Crime rate under-reported in TJ is an understatement! Although I'm staying positive that one day it will be all fixed up. One day...
Nothing wrong with 20 - 30 minutes away from the city . I live 25 it's clean ,quite and i can still get what i need. The other benefit is i don't have to suffer the Latte lot .
Just depends on what you are looking for!
I can confirm that everything you said is true and I live here. I like how you mention the different pockets in these areas that are worthwhile.
The Tiajuana River Estuary is in SW Imperial Beach. Sometimes the pollutants from Tijuana come straight down the river, during the rainy season.
IMO, I felt like the video is predominantly based on driving distance. When you said "avoid" I thought your going to name cities like Kearny Mesa, San Ysidro, National city, etc. Due to crime rates. Also, I might've missed it but I don't think you mention homelessness in downtown and balboa park. Chula Vista east of the highway was underwhemingly unappreciated. I mean no disrespect maybe change the title of the upload, still informative, still enjoyed it and thank you.
I appreciate the honest feedback DC. I put a lot of time into making an accurate and informative video here, but unfortunately due to fair housing laws I am restricted from discussing crime rates in specific areas.
@@DanPBestLifeSDThank you for your response. My apologies, I was unaware of the laws and regulations. Again, I appreciate your videos and I look forward to more.
It’s all good! I’m thankful you watch and appreciate the videos
@@DanPBestLifeSD You did a great job. Don't change anything.
As a San Diego citizen born and raised here this is all true !
Alright so it's not just me! Haha
I grew up in North Park/Hillcrest area and you couldn't ask for a better neighborhood to rip around in unsupervised as a kid (80's & 90's) unfortunately in my 30's I was priced out of living there as rental costs keep climbing, I'm stuck in El Cajon now...and only cause I've lived in our current place for so long the yearly increase on our rent is manageable. The other units have been fully renovated & cost around $1800 a month while my roommate and I only pay $1300, and remain unrenovated. The new units have new kitchens & dishwashers, etc...
Do you have a video on the best place to rent in San Diego ? Eg safe neighborhoods, less expensive neighborhoods, traffic ( working in the 92127,28 zip codes). I heard living close to a fwy can be a crime issue . Is that about right ? I like how you break down home ownership by the factors you point out. You mentioned that traffic is usally heavy on north, south direction where east, west direction fwy are better. That's good for me to consider. Thx
We just bought a 2200 sq ft log cabin on 2.25 acres in Santa Ysabel with a lake view and only 1 neighbor. I couldn't be happier, even with my 1 hour commute to Kearny Mesa (I love my job!). I drive uncongested mountain roads for the majority. I've lived in a lot of the places you mentioned, I think you're right and appreciate your perspective. It's all relative, it's whatever is worth it to you and your family. Btw schools are a very important consideration in SD, thank God for High Tech - but apply early because that wait list is as long as the TJ border wait. Signed - SD native.
I love your positive attitude.
This is for people that are thinking about moving to san diego or are not from san diego , those of us that are from here have no problem with living here. We don't own a dollar on our homes.
All of these areas have negatives and positives you don’t mention besides the traffic and ownership rates. Being a native from San Diego and being a parent of four children some people or a family coming from out of town will definitely have more questions please feel free to ask 👍
Awesome Video Brother, 😁🙌🏻
Love La Mesa, alot of music shops also 🎸
Rock on!
@@DanPBestLifeSD
👋🏻😀🎸
Thank you for your advice. I have friends and family there in Bankers Hill area. Yes, I hear you about the way things cost more inside San Diego County. I hear you but I do love San Diego on general.
Ownership rate in El Cajon is less than 40%!?!?! Im not surprised. There are a ton of apartments here. El Cajon has a lot of history and potential, but when you have so many renters, you often get people who dont care as much as an owner would. With Gillespie Field expanding its uncommon to have helicopters flying low. Theyre louder than the TV!
fax
What's your opinion on the mount hope area?
I was expecting to see Encanto in the list. I guess because it's so close to Naval Station and Downtown SD that it's still a highly desirable area. I've been in Emerald Hills since 2013 and love it, never had a problem.
I grew up in emerald hills. such a nice place
I love this area and wouldn’t live anywhere else in SD. So funny these real estate know-it-all’s are basically catering to a very specific group (who are a very low percentage here).
Beautiful area with bigger lots and central.
@@donraymundo5336 Jews?
What about bonsall?
Dang I’m closing in IB in 3days. This place gave me good vibes! I didn’t know about the runoff..
There are a LOT of reasons why I love IB, and I'm sure you will too! Congrats on the purchase!
Yeah the run off is a major problem that will never stop
I lived in IB in the 80's and the ocean was polluted back then.
IB doesn't have a need to go to Downtown, we have plenty of stores in South San Diego and 4 large malls :)
Lots to like about IB!
What are the best areas to live with the best return on my investment?
Leucadia!!!!!!!!!
Depending on where you live in Chula Vista it’s not as far as it seems. I live off the 5 and it takes me 12-15 minutes to get to the airport all the way inside to the parking lot where I work and it used to take me 15-20 minutes to get to San Diego state taking the 5 then the 15 when I used to go to school. I’m 10 minutes away from downtown and 15 min away from Coronado and mission valley. About 20-25 minutes to get to anything above old town. I absolutely love Chula Vista, I hate the negative stereotype it gets because it’s so close to the border. It’s an incredibly safe neighborhood to live in and I love the community in Chula Vista. I grew up here and lived out of the state of California for 8 years and I came back because I missed it too much. I really appreciate everything that Chula Vista is. I just wish San Diego overall had more stores in other cities like Whole Foods and total wine just to name a few. I love it here though.
Thanks for the insight!
I grew up in west CV and it was and is a bad area. The city of CV only cares about the Eastside now.
Agreed
I haven’t been to Chula Vista except in passing. My brother in law took us to a home of friends of his in Imperial Beach on 4th of July 2019 and weather there even better than San Diego. For years I thought San Diego itself was right on the Mexico border. Glad you love it. I would love to live in or around the San Diego area, but still annoyed at the cost of living and taxes. About 40 or 50 years ago and before, it was no more expensive living in San Diego than it was in most of the rest of the United States.
@@jondstewart San Ysidro neighborhood is part of San Diego and it is right on the border, so technically you are correct.
New construction means traffic and never ending freeway expansion, which will lead to even worst traffic.
The lemon grove "older the home. The more the costs." Is soooo true. My old home was really old and my parent's window needed to be kept held up with a wooden block and the land lord didn't even bother fixing ANYTHING. We still live in lemon grove but more in a modern/newer (but smaller and a slightly bigger rent price) home!
Yes it's something most people overlook!
Sounds like your parents needed a simple balance replacement in the window. If they were renting & the landlord refused to do the repair, they could have just done it paid for it, and then took the cost of repair out of the rent & provided a copy of proof of repair.
Hi Parker,
I see this video you posted almost a year ago. In a year, so much changed in the market. Its hard to find perfect 3bd Townhome in Mira mesa or near by 20miles radius. More trouble for first time buyers. What area do you suggest other than these?
Thanks for your question and for watching! Yes, there's no doubt the market has changed a LOT in the last 12 months, and I'll continue to put out content that can help answer those questions for you. Depending on your budget, what you are looking for, and where you are at, you might want to try Escondido, San Marcos, Santee, or El Cajon for more value. Reach out for more detailed info based on your situation.
love my area encanto, hood but still perfect location
great video Dan! would love to hear your thoughts on Vista
There are good and bad parts of Vista, but I love the area! They also have a nice new downtown area you can walk around in. A lot of older homes with character, and less cookie-cutter than a lot of neighborhoods.
North Park has some charm but not $800k worth. And it's pretty congested with traffic. Definitely in agreement with you on that one.
Homeless has also become a problem in NP. I saw a nice condo on 30th for sale for about $700k but it's right next to a church that houses all the bums and riff raf. A few days ago I walked by it and this homeless lady was outside on a crack cocaine and shouting obscenities. I know that can happen in any part of the city but if I'm paying $700k for a condo I dont want bullshit outside my house.
Born and raised all around SD. Bought a house on 4th and j st in Chula Vista for 300 in 2010, sold for 445 in 2017 , left the state and never looked back except for the memories. Glad I got to see it before it went crazy.
yet, here you are, looking back... byeeee
@@user-hd8ej8yx9p looking back indeed and gathering dumb replies from the peanut gallery with every post I write…. Byeeeeee
I no longer live in San Diego area, moved to NC, but I love Imperial Beach, I wish I had purchased there years ago, had I, I'd probably still be in San Diego County,
I am a native of Sd and you nailed it perfectly in this video. Good job.
Thanks Tim!!
Agreed
I dunno why San Maros made this list. It's one of if not the best city in North County.
I like San Marcos a lot, but best city in North County.... I strongly disagree.
Dan, where do you place National City on your list with the criteria from this video? Juan
Nasty City
Do not buy! The don’t call nasty city for nothing.
National city was probably so bad it didnt even make this list, because nobody is looking at it without knowing what it is.
Hoa, melorose in Chula Vista
How do I get your info so you can be my realtor
You can shoot me an email at dan@bestlifesandiego.com
Bro! The Melaroose was stupid high there! I lived next to the Olympic Center.
It's one of the highest I've seen in SD!
@@DanPBestLifeSD it was $4400 a year and $4400 a year in property tax. But I spend $10k a year in Austin 🤖
I own a condo in North Park and I don't. agree with you. It is a wonderful neighborhood. There are lots of opportunities. Yes, it is expensive, but if you can afford it, there are lots of updated condos and single family homes. Everything is so close. You can walk to stores, restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc. Balboa Park, downtown, Mission Bay, Mission and Fashion Valley are accessible in 10 minutes if you drive. This is spending less money on gas. And if you want to buy a property for investment, it is one of the best neighborhoods. The price of my condo almost doubled in 5 years. If you do not want to live in suburbs and be close to everything, North Park is the place to be.
That's a fair point. Condos/townhomes in this area I think are a great value. Looking back I was mostly referring to single family homes.
You discussed both positive & negative for these neighborhoods. Isn't this video about where NOT to buy?
Why do people say verse now instead of versus? VS = versus.
Thanks for the great video. Lots of solid advice 👍
Thanks Kim and Steve!
What about investing in Carlsbad? Solano beach? Encinates? Pros/Cons?
All great areas but Solana Beach and all areas of Encinitas are expensive. Carlsbad has many areas which are office/retail/commercial in addition to residential.
Pros= they are great in every way. Cons= pricey AF.
Pros highly desirable, cons you need a big capital to invest in Solana Beach, Del Mar and Encinitas. As well as Carlsbad who was accessible not that long ago.
Why would anyone agree to live under an HOA agreement? Yuck.
To each their own! A lot of times people that have had bad experiences with neighbors not taking care of their homes, or people that just don't want to have to manage anything on the exterior of the home, are excited about HOA's.
They used to call it South East San Diego, but that was declared to be racist when used as a descriptor of where crimes were occurring.
What about bario Santee?
Its January 2022. I would say avoid buying a house ANYWARE IN SAN DIEGO. This is a SELLERS MARKET! Interest going up and house prices increasing at this rate is unsustainable. Wait if you can.
What do you believe will be the catalyst for the market to go down? Just saying prices have been going up for too long isn't a reason for prices to come down. People still have money to afford these homes.
@@DanPBestLifeSD just like last time. We saw the same exact thing 15 years ago with the only possible exception that people with the worst credit arent as easiliy able to get loans today, but that's not clear. When financing your real estate is based on increasing values, and this is the way it is, then the second the market plateaus or even falls, it starts a domino effect with people trying to sell off. A game of musical chairs.
Is there a single neighborhood or middle-class home in San Diego proper that is less than 50 years old? I know Chula Vista was mentioned and assume you have to go out to El Cajon or Escondido to have something like that. Imperial Beach was the same and nothing but 1950’s homes.
Hey Jon, that's a good question. I would say most of the "affordable" neighborhoods in San Diego are around 50-70 years old. Some of the "newer" neighborhoods (30 years or less) you may want to check out are are in Carlsbad, 4S Ranch, Escondido, Santee, San Carlos, Vista, Oceanside, and maybe some townhomes in Mission Valley.
IB! Yeah, have to agree 👎
ACTUAL FACTUAL,JOURNALIST:YOUR INFORMATIVE CHANNEL IS ABSOLUTELY A GODSEND! BRAVO ZULU,BRUH.. I JUST FOUND YOUR FEED+I WILL REMAIN FOR TOPSHELF INTEL. SEMPER FIDELIS.
Well the all caps makes me a little uncomfortable, but I appreciate you nonetheless!
Do work with va loans
I work with lots of VA clients
You forgot to mention Chula Vista’s future skyline
Ya I don’t think the bayfront project was approved back then. I’ve definitely brought it up a few times since then
Hello Dan, is buying a house in Lemon Grove (Sherwood Drive) good or not good? Would it have a good resale profit opportunity in the future?
The answer is it depends! I'd need to know more about your specific situation and the home you are looking for. Shoot me a message and I'm happy to help
Trust me brotha. Lemon grove is ghetto as hell
Hi there! I wonder if you can help me ,about 7 months ago I saw one of your videos and I think you mentioned a nice Mexican restaurant in the Hillcrest neighborhood, where you had a date with your wife .Could you reply about it? Thanks, I would appreciate it.I enjoy your videos.
Ortegas!! They also have a fantastic brunch, and a late night happy hour :)
@@DanPBestLifeSD Thanks,I hope to try it when I visit.
Would you recommend Chula Vista - Escaya with the landfill still open?
Yes. I live in the community right next to it. Escaya looks nice. Some stores are going to be built there in the future.
Personally, I bought an older home in CV away from the landfill. Escaya is nice but the stink from the landfill was evident during the times I viewed the homes. Also was a bit concerned with what absorbs into the land by the home. Minus that, it's a beautiful area.
Chula vista doesnt sound negative at all.
Why isn't crime mentioned? This is a major, major factor when deciding where to live.
Because due to fair housing laws I am prohibited from discussing my thoughts on safety and crime. Check out sites like niche.com or search for each city's government website crime stats
@@DanPBestLifeSD Dang, that's insane. What a weird law.
Some folks are not going to like your honest opinion about the neighborhoods mentioned but that's precisely why I liked it, because you were giving your honest opinion based on your extensive knowledge of the housing market in San Diego. I do have a question, when I was looking at homes near IB, I remember smelling a bad odor in some areas. Is that due to the sewage problem or to the algae which all beaches get from time to time?
Mr. Parker! My brother.
Thanks, I really appreciate your comment.
The smell you mention is probably associated with the wetlands/wildlife refuge area, or even could be some local runoff going into the ocean. So more of an algae smell. I don’t think you are going to smell anything associated with the sewage problem I mentioned in the video
I wouldn’t move to Mira Mesa. We live there for a long time, then bought a condo in UTC, sold it recently since the density in that area is madness.
What is everyone's take on La Mesa?
La Mesa is highly desirable but because now it has a liberal city council not sure. They want to turn the Holiday Inn across Costco into a homeless camp. Not sure if those decisions are good for the city. BTW the homeless pop is imported from other neighborhoods. Having said that, home and rentals have skyrocketed and there is little inventory in the market.
@@Angelina_Rose pffffffff
A very nice viable area!
They rioted there last year, burned a bunch of buildings down so yeah….
what's best neighborhood for nuclear war?
Probably somewhere other than San Diego :P
Great video ty
Thanks for this info! Which part of SD has a lot of homeless people?
Downtown has it the worst.
@@CharChar827 thank you!
@@irishb9993 sure, no problem! The further you go from downtown, like the outskirts and central San Diego the less homeless you'll see.
Mostly downtown, some in Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, City Heights, North Park…
I love Chula VIsta.
But there's really nothing in downtown SD. Just growing homeless.
Yes downtown is an interesting place to analyze. But the truth is I still have clients buying and selling down there no problem.
Nothing lasts Downtown.. it's extremely transient and everybody hates each other. Terrible energy in Downtown.
Yeah downtown is not the same, like it used to be.
@@JohnnyGuitaristOfficial wym. nobody went to downtown 20 years ago either other than shopping in a mall.
Hi Dan, is there any areas in San Diego where there's no lizards? :( we just moved to SD locating in la mesa now & I was terribly shocked by the amount of lizards outdoors! We looking to buy a home soon, looking for lizards-free area wherever that would be lol 😁
Lizards are completely harmless.
What, no issues with the rattlesnakes, tarantulas and giant cockroaches?
What’s wrong with lizards?
@@greencarpetgrowing actually, no 😊🤭 just lizards 😔🙄
@@tpolerex7282 😲 EVERYTHING is wrong with them! I wish I had your opinion lol
If you're into public transportation, downtown is very accessible from Chula Vista and IB.
North Park is pretty cool.
Parking is the worst there. Crime in North Park and Hillcrest is also popping.
I’m surprised he didn’t mention any places not to live in because of the homeless problem. It’s politically correct to not address but there’s a safety aspect that all homebuyers will factor in.
It has nothing to do with being politically correct, as a real estate agent I MUST abide by fair housing laws, which means I am prohibited from mentioning my opinion on safety of one neighborhood vs another.
sooo informative! thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Honestly wish you'd mention the crime and schools b/c that's more important than downtown lol
Chula Vista Schools are very good, not that much in San Marcos or Escondido. Lemon Grove schools are good too. La Mesa-Spring Valley not great. San Diego unified overall is okay. El Cajon has a good school district.
Crime it depends. Close to the city gets higher. East county not that much believe it or not, everybody has guns.
I really appreciate that you don't bash Mexico but instead speak sensitively and realistically about it.
It’s a shithole
Mt Vernon 👍
I do like IB tho. Some good food.
My advice is avoid San Diego unless you’re a doctor, CEO, or own your own (successful) business!! The housing market there is ridiculous.
It's very tough to get into as a first time buyer that is for sure. But I've also seen a lot of people build wealth just by getting their foot in the door with a home and watching it build equity.
Bro! I lived in Chula! Well, Otay Ranch... don’t trash my hood 🤪
Chula?
stay out of nasty national city, it's cut off from Chula Vista, city of San Diego, and Bonita, look on the map of San Diego, it's cut off with no more expansion, no more home building, only condos and apartments are being built, it's a car jacking-with lots of break-ins of San Diego, County
National City is Naturally Sh***y
I think lemon grove is the best deal in all of San Diego!
The upper level schools tho... My kids grew up there (shared custody with dad), elementary was fine but we enrolled them in High Tech for middle and HS. They did well but I was super nervous for the short time we thought they might end up in a school in LG.
San Marcos gets 400 degree in the summer!
That's a fact! :P
This guy is a realtor?
Fact
RIP CALIFORNIA!!!